The holiday season is here, and with it usually comes a good deal of busyness for homeowners. And no homeowner wants to add “deal with a pest infestation” to their to-do list. Here’s how to pest-proof your home for the holidays so that tiny unwelcome guests don’t decide to drop by and stay awhile.
Keep An Eye on the Greenery
Natural decorations like evergreen trees and wreaths are a prime spot for pests to make their homes before that greenery decks your halls. That means that if you’re going to bring natural decorations into your home for the season, you should carefully inspect them first for any pests that may be hiding out in them. Give them a good shake, as that may dislodge insects that have been hanging out in them. Look out for other telltale signs of infestation, too, such as nests, webs, spider egg sacs and rodent chew marks.
Unbox Decorations Carefully
Holiday decorations that have been in storage all year are a prime spot to find pests, and unpacking them may also give pests an opportunity to get into other areas of your house. Use caution when unpacking decorations that you’ve been keeping in a basement, garage, attic or closet. If you’ve been using cardboard boxes or plastic bags, which are easy to chew or crawl into, any number or type of pests could have made that container their home. You might even find droppings or dead pests inside them. Check for damage to your decorations, such as chew marks on string lights that could be telltale signs of a rodent infestation. The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) also suggests unpacking your decorations outside to keep pests from getting the chance to escape from the storage container into your home.
When packing up your decorations at the end of the season, store them in sealed containers like plastic boxes so that pests can’t get into them.
Store Firewood Smartly
The NPMA also recommends that you store any firewood at least 20 feet away from your home, and to keep it on a raised surface. Doing this will prevent pests from making their way into the wood pile, and from there, into your home. Also make sure to inspect your firewood before it comes indoors.
Store Food Properly
The holiday season is generally full of big meals, and big meals often lead to leftovers. To make sure that pests don’t become attracted to your food, properly seal and store any containers of leftovers and keep them where pests can’t get to them, such as in the refrigerator, on shelves off the ground or in cabinets. Do your best to clean up spills and crumbs, too, as even trace amounts of discarded food may attract pests.
Call the Professionals!
Pests don’t take holidays, so we’re here to help get rid of them during this busy season. At Dodson Pest Control, we’ve been in the business for 75 years, and we have the knowledge, tools and experience necessary to handle your pest problem. Contact us today for a free inspection!